Aeroplane.



W. R. 8/: L. L. BELLVILLE;

AEROPLANE. APPLICATION TILED SEPT. 30, 1910.

Patented Feb. 14:, 1911.

2 SHEBTS SHEBT 1.

Llano L BELL V/LLE W. R. 6; L. L. BELLVILLE.

AEROPLANE.

AYPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 30. 1910.

Patented Feb. M, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LLOYD L .BELLM/LLE of Wayne and State of Michigan, havein- WILLIAM/R. BELLVILLE, or WYANDOTTE, AND.

' MICHIGAN.

.LLomn L; BELLVILLE, or pnrnorm,

AEROPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented l eb. 14, 1911.

Application filed September 30, 1910. Serial No. 584,650.

vented certain'new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification;reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to aeroplanes and to a distribution of the several lifting surfaces whereby stability and easeof control are obtained.

The invent-ion consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of a machine embodying features of the invention; Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the machine; Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the machine; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lower side of lifting planes; and Fig. 5 is a view in },)e rspective showing the general arrangement of the main lifting planes.

Referring to the drawings an upper main plane 1 that is triangular in shape with its apex at the forward end of the machine is secured in parallel relation to a lower main plane 2 that is slightly smaller than the upper plane, by suitably disposed stanchions and braces 3. The lower main plane has a portion of its body removed, and the tri angular space thus obtained is filled by a ing wheels 26 complete depending wedge shaped plane 4 whose two oblique faces are joined at their lower edges along a line oblique .to the main plane 2 intersecting the latter near its forward end.

The rear margin of the base plane 2 lies within the rear margin 5 of the upper base plane 1 to clear one or more propellers 6 that are driven through suitable connections indicated at 7 by a motor 8. The latter,

which may be of any preferred type is preferably situated between the walls of the dc pending plane 4, thereby bringing the center of gravity of the mach ine as low as possible.

A lifting propeller 9 that rotates parallel to the main planes 1 and 2, is suitably jour nalcd in the frame below the forward apex of the lower plane 2 and is driven through suitable connections indicated at 10 from the 'notor.

A pair of upper forward lifting planesr L1 011 either side of the upper plane 1 near the fprward end thereof are coupled to a corresponding pair of lower lifting planes 12 by links 13 or the like, Both pairs are tilt-able on transverse shafts 15 and 16 respectively thrpugh, suitable controlling connections indicated at 16 leading to the operators station. A pair of rear lifting planes 17 are hinged at their forward margins to the rear margin of the upper lifting plane 1 and are controlled by suitable connections indicated at 18. v

A pair of planes 19 are pivoted on axes parallel to the line of flight and to the main planes 1 and 2 between the forward portions of the latter and may be independently tilted 'through suitable connections shown at 21. A rear rudder plane 22 with operating connections 23 and a forward rudder plane 24 likewise provided with controlling mechanism25, together with bearthe machine.

By this method of construction an aeroplane is obtained that moves easily forward and may therefore be driven with little power. The Wedge shaped lifting plane not only aids in maintaining the machine when it is being driven forward but also steadies it against lateral movement, and together with the rudders form sufficient resistance to the air to avoid sidewise movement. The stability of the machine is further increased by the position of the motor.

The planes may be straight or curved as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Obviously, changes in the details ofconstruction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and we do not wish to limit ourselves to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

Ve claim as our invention 1. An aeroplane, comprising a pair of triangular main planes in parallel spaced relation with their apices extending for ward, a dihedral plane on the under side of one of the main planes with its lower edge oblique to the main axis of said plane, pairs of forward lifting planes pivotally secured near apices of the main planes, rear lifting planes each pivoted to the rear margin of a main plane, rudder planes pivotally secured transversely to the main planes, propellers rotatable on axes parallel to the main planes, a motor supported adjacent the main plane and operatively connected assess to the propellers, and means for severally controlling the lifting and rudder planes.

2. An aeroplane comprising a pair of triangular main planes in parallel spaced relation with their apices extending for ward, a dihedral plane on the under side of one of the main planes with its lower edge oblique to the main axis of said plane, pairs of forward lifting planes pivotally secured near apices of the main planes, rear lifting planes each pivoted to the rear margin of a main plane, rudder planes pivotally secured transversely to the main planes, propellers rotatable on axes parallel to the main planes, a motor supported ad-' jaeent the main planes and operatively con- 'relation with their apices extending forward, the lower main plane having a triangular portlon of lts loody cutaway,- a

dihedral wedge shaped plane secured at its margins of the opening of the main plane with its depending edge oblique to the main axis of said plane, pairs of forward lifting planes pivoted on axes parallel to the main planes near the apices, rear lifting planes each. hinged at its forwardmargin to the rear margin of a main plane, a pair of auxiliary lifting planes pivoted on axes parallel to the line of flight between the forward portions of the main planes, a forward rudder plane pivoted on an axis perpendicular to the main plane near the apices thereof, a rear rudder plane pivoted on an axis perpendicular to the main plane near the rear margins thereof, means for severally controlling the lifting and rudder planes, a

lifting propeller rotatable on anlaxis perpendicular to the main planes near the for: v

ward ends thereof, propellers near the rear end of the main planes rotatable on shafts substantially parallel to the line of flight, and a motor operatively connected to the propellers and supported'between the sides of the dihedral plan'eQ 4:. An aeroplane comprising an upper triangular main plane with its apex extended forwardly, a lower triangular main plane in parallel relation to the upper plane, a dihedral wedge shaped depending plane sooured against the under side of the lower plane with its lower edge parallel to the line of flight, a pair of lifting planes pivoted near the forward end of the upper main plane on an axis parallel to said plane and transverse to the line of flight, a mating pair of lifting planes pivoted near the forward end of the lower main plane on an axis parallel tosaidplane and transverse to the line of flight, means connecting said lifting planes to move in unison, a pair of rear lifting planes pivoted on an axis parallel to the main plane transverse to the line of flight, an auxiliary pair of planes between the forward portions of the ,main planes pivoted on axes parallel to the main planes and to the line of flight, a rudder plane near the apices of the main plane pivoted on an axis perpendicular to the main plane, a rear rudder plane pivotedon an axis perpendicular to the main planes, alifting propeller near the forward end of themain planes pivoted on an axis perpendicular thereto,propellers rotatable on axes parallel to the main planes and t0 the line offlight, a motor secured within the wings of the dihedral plane and operatively connected to the several propellers, and means for operating and controlling the several lifting and rudder planes. I

5.-In an aeroplane, an upper triangular main plane with its apex extending forward, a lower triangular similarly disposed main plane in parallel spaced relation to the upper plane provided with a depending wedge shaped dihedral portion whose lower oblique margin lies in a plane parallelto the line of flight and in a line that intersects the major axis of the lower plane, and pairs of forward lifting planes pivotally secured on either side of the main planes near the apices thereof to swing together on axes parallel to the main planes and transverse to the line of flight.

6. In an aeroplane, an upper triangular main plane with its apex extendlng forward,"

a lower triangular similarly disposed main plane in parallel spaced relation to the upper plane provided with 5 "depending wedge shaped dihedral portion whose lower oblique margin lies in a plane parallel tothe line of flight and in a linethat intersects the major axis of the lower plane, pairs of forward lifting planes pivot-ally secured on either side of the main planes near the apices thereof to swing together on axes',

perpendicular to the main planes and trans verse to the liner of flight, lifting and driving propellers, and a motor operatively connected thereto' and supported between the sides of the depending dihedral plane.

Intestimony whereof we afiix our signstures 1n presence of two wltnesses.

WILLlAllf R. BELLVIL LE; LLOYD L. BELLVILLE. e

Witnesses: ANNA M. Dona,- Or'ro F, BARTBEL. 

